Bürkert

Bürkert is a German family-owned industrial technology company specializing in the measurement and control of liquids and gases. Its portfolio spans solenoid valves, process and analytical valves, proportional valves, pneumatic actuators, sensors, mass-flow controllers and meters, microfluidic components, control units, and integrated fluid-management systems. The company serves industrial and highly regulated applications rather than competing primarily as a consumer brand. The business began in 1946, when electrical engineer Christian Bürkert developed temperature controllers for incubators and kitchen stoves. During the 1950s, Bürkert shifted toward valve technology, particularly solenoid valves used in appliances such as washing machines. As appliance manufacturing became more cost-sensitive in the 1960s, the company moved away from the consumer market and concentrated on industrial customers. Its development of plastic-coated solenoid coils and standardized cable connectors helped make its valves more suitable for demanding industrial environments. Over subsequent decades, Bürkert expanded from individual valves into a broader fluidics and process-automation specialist. In the 1990s it added process valves, sensors, mass-flow controllers, and systems for process automation. It also developed media-separated miniature solenoid valves for life-science uses, creating opportunities in medical, laboratory, dental, and pharmaceutical applications. The company combines component production with engineering and customer-specific integration through its Systemhaus facilities, which develop complete systems and services for applications such as water treatment, hygienic processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and field automation. Bürkert operates internationally through production facilities, subsidiaries, and regional offices. Manufacturing and development activities are based in Germany and at sites including France, China, the United States, and India. Its international activities include production, research and development, software, plastics engineering, toolmaking, pump technology, coil production, and systems integration. The company’s customers operate in sectors including chemicals, food and beverage, brewing, pharmaceuticals, laboratory and medical technology, water treatment, semiconductor-related applications, and aerospace. The company remains privately owned and is held through foundations associated with the Bürkert family. Following the death of founder Christian Bürkert in 1971, Dorothee Bürkert helped preserve the company’s independence and later established the Christian Bürkert Foundation. That foundation, renamed the Christian and Dorothee Bürkert Foundation in 2024, supports education and regional social initiatives while contributing to the continuity of the business. In 2023, Bürkert reported 3,812 employees and revenue of €710.7 million. In the same year it acquired a majority stake in Swiss company ReseaTech after a period of collaboration. It also opened a production facility in Taicang, China. A new facility in Pune, India followed in 2024. In 2025, Bürkert made a strategic investment in Green Elephant Biotech to support the development of a production platform for cell cultures. These developments reflect the company’s continuing emphasis on international manufacturing, life sciences, digitalization, and customized fluid-control systems.

Bürkert traces its origins to 1946 in Ingelfingen, Germany, where electrical engineer Christian Bürkert developed temperature controllers for incubators and kitchen stoves. He reportedly assembled his first device in the cellar of his family home using components recovered from aircraft wreckage. The postwar demand for poultry among occupying forces helped create a practical market for incubator controls, giving the new company an initial commercial direction. During the 1950s, Bürkert moved decisively toward valve technology. Solenoid valves became a core product and were used in applications including washing machines. The company established its first production facility outside Germany in 1956, beginning an internationalization process that later became central to its operating model. The economics of appliance manufacturing changed during the 1960s as washing machines and other consumer products were produced at lower cost. Rather than compete primarily in the consumer market, Bürkert adapted its technology for industrial applications. Plastic-coated solenoid coils and standardized cable connectors improved durability and ease of integration. This strategic shift transformed the company into a specialist supplier of industrial fluid-control components. Bürkert also established a production facility in Alsace, France, with support from the French government, and created a subsidiary in the United Kingdom. A major challenge came in 1971, when Christian Bürkert disappeared during a solo flight over the North Atlantic while ferrying a new aircraft from Newfoundland to Hohenlohe. He was subsequently presumed dead. Dorothee Bürkert asked employees to remain with the business for at least one year, while other companies, including Siemens, reportedly showed interest in acquiring it. A substantial part of the workforce honored the request, allowing the company to continue independently. In 1978, Dorothee Bürkert established the Christian Bürkert Foundation in accordance with her late husband's wishes. She later transferred her shares in the company to the foundation, using the structure both to support charitable purposes and to preserve the Bürkert Group as an integrated family-controlled enterprise. The foundation was renamed the Christian and Dorothee Bürkert Foundation in 2024 and reorganized as a civil-law foundation. Bürkert broadened its technology base substantially during the 1990s. The company added process valves, sensors, and mass-flow controllers, becoming a more comprehensive fluidics supplier. It also developed process-automation components and small media-separated solenoid valves for sensitive life-science applications. These products opened additional markets in hospitals, dental practices, laboratories, pharmaceuticals, and related fields. The company began building a network of Systemhaus facilities for customer-specific engineering and complete-system production. The first was established in Großröhrsdorf near Dresden in 1993. Further facilities were added in Ingelfingen-Criesbach in 2007 and in Menden, with international Systemhaus operations later established in the United States, China, and India. These sites enabled Bürkert to move beyond selling individual components and to deliver integrated systems for water treatment, hygienic processing, field automation, and other specialized applications. In 2007, Bürkert created an innovation hub at its Ingelfingen headquarters. In 2014, it introduced the Efficient Device Integration Platform, or EDIP, as part of its move toward connected devices and Industry 4.0 concepts. The company expanded into the filling of ultra-pure and sensitive media in 2015. In 2016, it opened the Criesbach Campus, combining logistics, manufacturing, an innovation hub, and training and development facilities. A new United States headquarters opened in Huntersville, North Carolina, in April 2017. More recent development has centered on international capacity, strategic partnerships, and life-science applications. Bürkert acquired a majority stake in Swiss company ReseaTech in 2023 after collaborating with it since 2021, and opened a production plant in Taicang during the same year. Construction of a new facility in Pune followed in 2024. In 2025, Bürkert invested strategically in Green Elephant Biotech to support a cell-culture production platform. The group continues to combine component manufacturing, software and automation, research, and customer-specific systems while remaining privately held and foundation-owned.

• 2025

  Investment in Green Elephant Biotech

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Bürkert made a strategic investment in Green Elephant Biotech to collaborate on a cell-culture production platform.

• 2024

  Foundation renamed and Pune expansion

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  The Christian Bürkert Foundation became the Christian and Dorothee Bürkert Foundation, while Bürkert advanced construction of a new facility in Pune.

• 2023

  ReseaTech investment and Taicang plant

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Bürkert acquired a majority stake in ReseaTech and opened a new production facility in Taicang, China.

• 2017

  New United States headquarters

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Bürkert opened a new United States headquarters in Huntersville, North Carolina.

• 2016

  Criesbach Campus opened

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  The Criesbach Campus opened with logistics, manufacturing, innovation, training, and development functions.

• 2014

  EDIP introduced

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Bürkert internally introduced its Efficient Device Integration Platform, supporting its move into connected industrial devices and Industry 4.0.

• 2007

  Innovation hub established

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  The company established an innovation hub at its Ingelfingen headquarters and expanded its Systemhaus network with a Criesbach facility.

• 1993

  First Systemhaus facility

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Bürkert opened its first Systemhaus facility in Großröhrsdorf near Dresden for customer-specific complete systems.

• 1978

  Foundation established

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Dorothee Bürkert established the Christian Bürkert Foundation to support charitable purposes and help preserve the company.

• 1971

  Death of the founder

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Christian Bürkert disappeared during a solo transatlantic flight and was presumed dead; the company continued under the stewardship of Dorothee Bürkert and its employees.

• 1956

  First foreign production facility

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Bürkert established its first production facility outside Germany.

• 1946

  Company founded

  [1]Bürkerten.wikipedia.org

  Christian Bürkert founded the business after developing temperature controllers for incubators and kitchen stoves.

A specialized, engineering-led provider of fluid-control components, digital control technology, and integrated systems for industrial, hygienic, laboratory, medical, and life-science applications.

• Valves

  Solenoid valves

  Solenoid valves became Bürkert's foundational product category during the 1950s. The company supplies versions for general industrial use, sensitive media, hygienic processing, and compact life-science equipment. Its historical development included plastic-coated coils and standardized cable connections, helping adapt valve technology from appliance applications to more demanding industrial environments.

• Valves · 1990

  Process and analytical valves

  Bürkert's process and analytical valve portfolio supports the controlled handling of liquids and gases in industrial plants, laboratories, pharmaceutical production, food and beverage processing, and water-treatment installations. These products are used both as standalone components and as elements within broader process-automation systems.

• Measurement and control · 1990

  Sensors and flow-control devices

  The company produces sensors, mass-flow meters, mass-flow controllers, and related measurement devices for monitoring and regulating fluid processes. These products extend Bürkert's role from switching or routing media to measuring process conditions and maintaining precise flow rates in industrial, laboratory, and life-science applications.

• Life-science fluidics · 1990

  Microfluidics and miniature valves

  Bürkert developed small, media-separated solenoid valves and other microfluidic technologies for applications involving sensitive or highly controlled media. The products support equipment used in medical, dental, laboratory, pharmaceutical, and related life-science environments where contamination control and compact integration are important.

• Integrated systems · 1993

  Systemhaus solutions

  Systemhaus facilities design and manufacture customer-specific assemblies and complete fluid-control systems. Projects can include water-treatment solutions, hygienic systems for pharmaceutical manufacturing, process-automation packages, and ATEX-certified control cabinets for field automation. This offering combines Bürkert components with engineering, software, integration, and service.

• 2025

  Strategic investment in Green Elephant BiotechStrategy

  Background

  Biotechnology and cell-culture production require precise, scalable handling of sensitive fluids and biological media.

  Action taken

  Bürkert invested strategically in Green Elephant Biotech and began joint development of a cell-culture production platform.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration extended Bürkert's life-science focus beyond conventional valves and measurement devices toward integrated bioprocessing infrastructure.

  Source

• 2023

  Majority investment in ReseaTechM&A

  Background

  Bürkert had collaborated with Swiss company ReseaTech since 2021.

  Action taken

  Bürkert acquired a majority stake in ReseaTech.

  Aftermath

  The transaction strengthened the group's strategic relationship with ReseaTech and broadened its technology and market capabilities.

  Source

• 2014

  Introduction of the Efficient Device Integration PlatformStrategy

  Background

  Industrial customers increasingly required connected devices and more integrated automation architectures.

  Action taken

  Bürkert introduced EDIP internally as a platform supporting device integration and digital communication.

  Aftermath

  The initiative marked the company's move toward Industry 4.0-oriented fluid-control products and systems.

  Source

• 1960

  Shift from consumer appliances to industrial fluid controlStrategy

  Background

  Lower-cost washing-machine manufacturing made the consumer-appliance market more price-driven during the 1960s.

  Action taken

  Bürkert redirected its technical and commercial focus toward industrial valve applications, using developments such as coated solenoid coils and standardized connectors.

  Aftermath

  The shift established Bürkert as a specialist industrial supplier and created the basis for later expansion into process automation and engineered systems.

  Source

1. 1Bürkerten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bürkert official websiteburkert.com